Ecological and Biological Management of Cereal Stemborers : on maize and sorghum in the Amhara State of Ethiopia

Stemborers are a major group of insect pests ofcereals in Africa and Asia. They aggravate foodinsecurity of farmers. Non-chemical based pestmanagement systems are advocated. Borer distributionand importance, effects of soil fertility, ofindigenous cropping systems, and of planting times onborers were studied in two ecozones, i.e., thecool-humid and semi-arid regions of the Amhara Stateof Ethiopia. Chilo partellus, Busseola fusca, Sesamiacalamistis, and a coleopterous borer, Rhynchaenusniger were found. The wasp Cotesia flavipesparasitized C. partellus. Unidentified nematodesparasitized medium sized B. fusca larvae. Increasinglevels of N fertilizer increased borer density, plantgrowth, borer damage and grain yield (up to 74%) onsorghum. Grain losses decreased linearly from 49% atno fertilizer level to 36% at the highest N level.Intercropping maize with mustard (Brassica carinataBraun) lowered B. fusca numbers. Increasing soilnutrients increased borer attack, but also improvedplant vigor, resulting in a net benefit for the plantand the grain yield. This book is ideal for pestmanagers, researchers, university professors andrural development workers.